Combination dimmer and direction switch



May 19, 1953 P. FRANCK COMBINATION DIMMER AND DIRECTION SWITCH Filed April 13 1951 IN VEN TOR; Paul L. Hana/1 ATTC] RN EYS Patented May 19, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION DIMMER AND DIRECTION SWITCH This invention relates to headlight dimming and signal actuating switches of motor vehicles, and in particular a switch having a button adapted to be positioned in the floor of a motor vehicle corresponding to the conventional dimmer button r plunger and in which the button is movable laterally to light signals indicating that the operator of the vehicle contemplates turning to the right or left.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means for combining direction signals of a motor vehicle with the headlight dimmer switch of the vehicle whereby the direction signals may be actuated by a foot of the operator of the vehicle.

This invention is an improvement over the switch of my prior Patent No. 2,456,498 in that a lateral movement is provided for the button wherein the switch also operates direction signals.

Various types of direction signals have been provided on motor vehicles, but the type that operates with the turning of the steering wheel has not been found satisfactory and, at times,- it is difiicult to use one hand to operate a switch for the signal lights positioned on the instrument board of the vehicle. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a foot actuated switch positioned in the floor of the vehicle whereby a button of the switch is pressed inwardly to actuate the dim and bright lights, and moved laterally to operate direction signal lights on the vehicle. I

The object of this invention is, therefore,'to provide means for incorporating direction signal control elements in a conventional dimmer switch whereby the direction signals are operated by the same button that actuates the dimmer switch.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for actuating direction signals of a motor vehicle by the foot of the operator without adding an additional switch to the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination dimmer light and direction signal operating switch for motor vehicles, which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a casing having contacts mounted on a block of insulating material therein, means in the casing for opening and closing the contacts and a button vertically positioned and slidably mounted in a laterally slidable carrier for actuating the contact opening and closing means.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing a wiring diagram illustrating the relative positions of the wires and lights to which the wires extend on a motor vehicle, a plan View of the vehicle being indicated in dot and dash lines, therein.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the switch.

Figure 3 is a cross section through the switch taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the switch taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a cross section similar to that shown in Figure 3 showing only the mounting block, which is formed of insulating material, with contacts mounted on the block and with other parts omitted.

Figure 6 is a view looking upwardly toward the under surface of the slidably mounted button carrier also showing the contacts on the carrier and with other parts omitted.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved combination dimmer and direction signal switch of this invention includes a rectangular shaped casing having a base In with upwardly extended side walls I I and I2 and with end walls I3 and I4, a U-shaped block I5 of insulatin material, a button I6 slidably mounted in a tubular casing I! and positioned in a carrier I8 which is formed of insulating material and which is adapted to be moved longitudinally in the casing by the button, and a cover plate I9 which, with the casing, is secured to a floor 20 by bolts 2|.

The cover plate I9 is provided with flanges 22 and 23 at the sides which extend over the upper edges of the side walls II and I2 of the casing and the end walls I3 and I4 of the casing are provided with flanges 24 and 25 that are positioned to receive the bolts 2|.

The upper ends of the side members of the block I5 are provided with slots 23 and 27 in which contacts 28 and 29 are secured by screws 30 and 3|, respectively. The contacts 28 and 29 are positioned to be ngaged by contacts 32 and 33 on the hub 34 of the carrier I8, as shown in Figure 6. The contacts 32 and 33 are connected with a contact strip 35.

The upper ends of the side members of the block I5 are spaced from the upper end of the casing providing slots in which the ends of the carrier I8 are slidably mounted and, as illustrated in Figure 4 the carrier, with the button I 6 mounted therein is resiliently held in a central or neutral position by springs 36 and 3'! that are positioned to extend into recesses 38 and 39 respectively, in the ends of the carrier.

The button It extends through an elongated slot 40 in the floor 20 and also through a similar slot M in the cover plate la.

The tubular casing IT in which the button It is mounted is provided with an outwardly flared outer end 42 and an annular flange in the .opposite end provides a seat for a spring 414 that urges the button outwardly, the opposite end of the spring engaging a shoulder 45 at the lower end of the button. Outward movement of the button is limited by a pin it, as illustrated in Figure 3 which extends through slots t! and 48 in th casing ii and engages the endcf the central portion or hub is of the carrier E8. The button is provided with a stem 50 of reduced diameter, and the stem extends through the spring and flange 43.

An offset arm M, which issecured to the stem 50 of the button it by a screw 52 extends'downwardly to engage elongated teeth 53 of a ratchet Wheel 54 that is journaled by a shaft 55 in the ends'of the block i5, as shown in Figure 4.

On end of the ratchet wheel is provided with a series of contacts 56 and the opposite end is provided with a seriesoi alternately spaced con tactsfil.

The contacts 56 are positioned to engage the contactbii mounted, bya screw 59, on the base of the block if, and thecontactsti arepositioned to engage a contact {is which is mounted on the base of the block by a screw 6 l.

The ratchet'wheel is also provided with a series of teeth 62 that arepositioned to engage a sprin arm 63 that is secured on the base of the block i by a screw as. The spring arm 63 vholds the ratchet wheel as the. button it is returned by the spring 54.

With the switch positioned in the floor board of a motor vehicle the button it is pressed inwardly to actuate the switch to change iromydim to bright lights or bright to dim lights and the button is moved laterally in the slot 5-0 to complete'circuits to signal lights indicating that the vehicleis about to turn to the right or left.

In the diagram illustrated in Figure 1 headlights-t5 and'iifi, provided with bright filaments 6'1 and fit and dim'filaments and it, respectively are connected to the contacts 58 and $9,

the contact 58 being connected to the .dim iila-' ments'tii and iii by wires ii and "Handthe con tact to being connected with the bright filaments 67 and M by Wires it and it. ihe opposite terminals of the filaments are grounded through wires '15 and it.

With the parts as shown in Figure 'l the light switch H on the instrument panel is closed to light thebright lights when the contact arm 5!, carried by the button it engages a contact 66 through one of the contact points Fill, the opposite terminal of the switch 'l'i' bein connected to a battery l8 by a wire it.

When it is desired to change to the dimmer lights the button it is pressed inwardlywhereby one of the contact pointed! moves away from the contact 53. In this movement the circuit is broken to the bright lights and completed to the dim lights, and with the next movement of the button it the contacts are reversed with the circuit being broken to the dim lights and completed to the bright lights.

With the contacts of the dim and bright lights in either position the button is is moved laterally to complete circuits to the direction signal lights and with the button [5 moved in one direction th contact 22 engages the contact 28 completing a circuit through the wire 8!! with the direction lights 8! and 82 on one side of the vehicle, and by moving the button is in the opposite direction the contact 33 engages the contact 29, completing a circuit to the direction signal li hts $3 andxad on the opposite side of the vehicle'through the-wires '85 and 88. The contacts 32 and 33 are connected to one side of the battery 18 by a wire 8'! and the opposite terminal of the battery is connected to the ground 88. The opposite terminals of the signal lights for indicating the direction the vehicle is about to turn are also grounded.

The circuit is also provided with indicating lightsBQ and 'Sdboth of which are connected to asground by the wires 9! and 92, and the light 89 is connected to the wireysll of the signal lights 8! and 82 by twirl-3:93, and the light 953 is connected to the'WireMiof-the lights-stand 35 by a wire 94.

With the parts arranged in this manner the operator of a motor vehicle may operate the brightand dimmer lights in the conventional manner andmamatthe sametime press the foot button, ioropcrating the dimmer switch, to the right or left to indicate the direction in which he intends to turn the vehicle. As soon as the button isreleased-circuits .tothe direction signals are broken as the button is returned to the neutral position by the springs 35 and 31.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the .design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is 1. A combination motor vehicle dimmer and direction signal switch comprising a switch casing, a block of insulating material U-shape is cross section positioned in the casing, .a carrier slidably mounted for lateral travel on one end-of the casing, contacts -positioned on the sides of the carrier,-a button slidably mounted in the carrier and positioned to extend into an open area in the block of insulating material, a ratchet wheel having a series of contacts thereon journalecl in the said-blockof insulating material and positioned perpendicular-to the axisof said button, means actuating the ratchet wheel by the button. as the button is pressed inwardly,-contacts positioned to be engagedby-the said series'of contacts of the ratchet wheel for makingand breakm circuits, and contacts mounted on the said block-of insulating material andpositioned to be engaged by the contacts 'of the carrier upon lateral movement of the carrier.

2- :A combination motor vehicle dimm r n direction signal switch comprising aswitch ca ing, a block of insulatinematerial u-shape in. cross secti-onposition in the casing. a carrier slidably mounted for lateral travel :on .one side of the casing, contacts positionedon the sidesof the carrier, abuttonpslidabjly mounted in the carrier and positioned to extend into an open :area in the block of insulatingzmateriaha ratchet :wheel having a seriesof contacts thereon journalecl in thersaid block of insulating material and ,positioned perpendicular to the axis of said'button; means actuating the ratchet wheel by thebutton asthe button is pressed inwardly,-contacts positioned tobe engaged by the saidseries .of contacts of the :ratchet wheel .for making and breaking circuit, contacts mounted on the said block .of said insulating :material and positioned to be engaged by the contacts of the carrier upon lateral movement of the carrier, resilient means in the carrier for returning the button to its released position, and resilient means in the casing for returning the carrier to a neutral position.

3. In a combination motor vehicle dimmer and direction signal switch, the combination which comprises a casing rectangular shaped in cross section having an open upper end and having flanges extended from the said upper ends, a plate having an elongated slot therein positioned on the upper open end of the casing and secured to said flanges, a block of insulating material U- shaped in cross section having a base with upwardly extended arms positioned in said casing, a carrier, also of insulating material, slidably mounted on said plate and having a vertically disposed bore therein, springs mounted in the casing and positioned to engage opposite ends of the carrier for urging the carrier to a centrally disposed neutral position, a button slidably mounted in the bore of the carrier and having an arm carried by the end thereof extended into the casing, said arm positioned in the open area between the arms of said insulating block, contacts carried by opposite ends of the carrier and positioned to travel over the upper ends of the arms of the block of insulating material, contacts mounted on the ends of the arms and positioned to engage said contacts of the carrier, a ratchet wheel positioned in the open area between the arms of the block of insulating material and mounted on a shaft journaled in said arms, radially disposed contacts carried by one end of the ratchet wheel, contacts on the base of the block of insulating material positioned to be engaged by the radially disposed contacts of the ratchet wheel, said ratchet wheel positioned to be engaged by the arm extended from the button for rotating the ratchet wheel as the button is pressed inwardly of the casing, and resilient means for retaining said ratchet wheel in adjusted positions.

PAUL L. FRAN CK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,893,371 Knowlton Jan. 3, 1933 2,305,962 Gould Dec. 22, 1942 2,373,889 Harmon Apr. 17, 1945 2,453,035 Ponsy Nov. 2, 1948 

